Enforcement Directorate's Probe Uncovers Rs. 118 Crore Fraud in Assam Construction Welfare Fund.
24 August 2024
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in Guwahati has conducted searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a fraudulent scheme involving the Assam Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (ABOCWWB). This scheme involved the wrongful allocation of contracts worth Rs. 118 Crore between 2013 and 2016 to M/s Purbashree Printing House, owned by Priyanshu Boiragi.
The case concerns the embezzlement of funds intended for the welfare of construction workers. During the operation, the ED seized incriminating documents and materials and has attached assets totaling Rs. 34.03 Crore, including bank balances and fixed deposits.
The ED's investigation, based on an FIR by the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell and subsequent police charge-sheets, has implicated several individuals: Chohan Doley, the former Labour Commissioner and ABOCWWB Member Secretary; Priyanshu Boiragi; Gautam Baruwa, the former Chairman of ABOCWWB; and Nagendra Nath Choudhury, the former Administrative Officer of ABOCWWB. These individuals are accused of manipulating the tendering process to secure disproportionately high-value printing contracts through fraudulent means.
The investigation has revealed that Priyanshu Boiragi used the misappropriated funds to acquire fixed deposits in his name and funneled remaining funds through various accounts and shell entities to evade detection. Further investigation is ongoing.
PREVENTION OF MONEY LAUNDERING ACT, 2002